It has been almost a week since a meeting headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami decided to keep the Sasikala family “completely away” from the affairs of the party and the government. But, what stands out is the absence of vocal opposition to the family among the leaders.
Despite the AIADMK-Amma’s declared stance against its general secretary and deputy general secretary, tall hoardings and posters of a smiling Sasikala along with Jayalalithaa are still prominently displayed at the party head office. If the scene in the party head office is anything to go by, one could say there has been no challenge either to her leadership or her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran. Not a single senior leader, Minister or an MLA from the party has spoken openly against the Sasikala family except for communicating the decision of the meeting held at the Chief Minister’s house to “sideline” them.
When asked about the reported demand from the O. Panneerselvam faction that the portrait of Sasikala and Mr. Dhinakaran be removed from the party head office before they arrive for the talks, Finance Minister D. Jayakumar on Sunday said he had no “authentic” information about such a demand.
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Difficult task
But, the demand for removing Sasikala and Mr. Dhinakaran from their respective posts and removing their portraits from the party head office may not be easy. Some still maintain that Mr. Dhinakaran’s stepping aside only showed his “magnanimity” for the welfare of the party.
A former Minister, presently holding a key party position says, “They cannot dictate terms like these [forcing the leaders to resign]. Just because a few people want, the general secretary (GS) and her appointee cannot be removed.”
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A ruling party MLA said, “Personally, we can’t forget that we are in our present positions, partially because of Sasikala. We did not have the funds to contest and win an election entirely on our own.”